The Great Pram Debate

[lozzy21]

Pixxi i am in the same situation as you, i live in islington, in a first floor flat

How weird, we are in Holloway!

I have used my Ergo daily for 15 months and have yet to use a stroller. I also live in Canada and our public transport is much worse than yours, it is still very easy to do.

Stick to your guns. Get a great carrier and who knows, you might not even bother with anything else for another few years let alone 6 months

This is what I'm hoping! I just feel though like whatever happens - even if we love babycarrying and want to carry on - we will HAVE to get a pram just to pacify MIL I will definitely hop over to natural parenting!

I agree with both you and her.

I do think you should get a car seat. We dont have a car but still have our own, its not allways convenient to borrow one? What if there using it when you need it? What if there was an emergancy and you needed to get a taxi some where? I know its legal to have a baby in a taxi with out a car seat but its not safe.

The car seat she has currently for DH's brother's baby is exclusively for use in her car - my B & SIL don't have access to any other car. So if they were using it, it would be in her car and we wouldn't have need of it anyway, because we don't all fit in her car at the same time! And in an emergency...is it really necessary to buy a carseat for the soul purpose of in case an emergency happens? If there was a serious emergency I would call an ambulance anyway, I wouldn't be relying on a taxi drivers driving skills!

Personally yes i would think its necessary but thats up to you. The emergency might not be with the baby but you still need to get some where in a hurry.

 

[StarlitHome]

Can't agree with cinnamum either, as my 3-week-old loves her Moby wrap and it is completely and utterly secure.
https://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr8kzb2Aqj1qfqidwo2_250.jpg
That's us at 2 weeks with the Moby wrap - she's all snuggled up close. I couldn't function without my Moby wrap as it means I can use two hands for things (like eating) while carrying her, as well as it is FAR more comfortable for when we got out, as opposed to simply arm-carrying her.
If you are worried about a sling not being secure enough (although I'm sure it would be) I'd definitely suggest a Moby wrap or similar.

Oh, and I don't own a pram at all. We live in a small apartment with very little storage space, it made more sense to us to get carriers (we have an Ergo waiting for when Molly is bigger!).

 

[pixxi]

https://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr8kzb2Aqj1qfqidwo2_250.jpg
.

AWWW she looks so cute and snug!

 

[veganmum2be]

i had a c section and wore him from day 5 the day i got home from hospital, no bother at all, a good supportive sling or wrap wont put any pressure on the c section wound.

as for babywearing in the rain we use umbrella too, and i HATE pushing a buggy whilst trying to hold a brolly, much easier when we can both snuggle under it.

newborns aren't too floppy, if you use a wrap/sling properly its totaly snug and secure.

my LO loved the sling much more than the buggy, i only used the buggy when i had too/for shopping, its much more convenient and lovely to have them in a sling

i too would get a carseat though, an infant carrier would just stand on top of a wardrobe or something wont take up too much space


you could always get a stroller that the carseat clips on, they had them in argod for £60 recently, so that way you have a stoller hould you want it and the carseat.
eta: just checked argos and they dont have them online now this is the one i was on about anyway
https://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=...&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi
xx

 

[ellemonkey]

Ergo Ergo Ergo!

I have mine in galaxy, i wont be getting a double pram now as I just cant fit in anywhere, I wish i had an ergo first like I asked for but was bought a bjorn instead because it was more expensive and must be better, cheers. That thing killed my back after 5 mins but ergo I can wear a 7 month old with no problems.

 

[Housewife83]

Having lived in London myself I wouldn't bother with a pram. The accessibility is absolutely terrible, I can't imagine navigating around with a pram.

There is nothing to stop you getting one later if you need it.

 

[AFC84]

Can't agree with cinnamum either, as my 3-week-old loves her Moby wrap and it is completely and utterly secure.
https://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lr8kzb2Aqj1qfqidwo2_250.jpg
That's us at 2 weeks with the Moby wrap - she's all snuggled up close. I couldn't function without my Moby wrap as it means I can use two hands for things (like eating) while carrying her, as well as it is FAR more comfortable for when we got out, as opposed to simply arm-carrying her.
If you are worried about a sling not being secure enough (although I'm sure it would be) I'd definitely suggest a Moby wrap or similar.

Oh, and I don't own a pram at all. We live in a small apartment with very little storage space, it made more sense to us to get carriers (we have an Ergo waiting for when Molly is bigger!).

Aww, lovely pic

I used a Sleepy Wrap from about the same sort of age, it was fantastically supportive and was by far our best ever baby buy. Finley was always so comforted by it and it was such a special time

We still regularly babywear now, except he's almost always on my back these days. I hardly ever used a pushchair up until getting my BFP, because I was too sick/tired. I've got a normal single buggy to use when the new baby arrives...I am planning on almost exclusively wrapping the new one and having F in the pushchair, but the one I have is suitable for switching them around if I want too The thought of going around London with a buggy is horrendous!

A car seat is useful to have, you can ask taxi companies and most will provide, but then you're not going to know what it is and how it's been treated etc. I never got the one to fit my travel system as it was given to me by a family member, but I don't think I would have really used it on there anyway as you're not supposed to keep them in a car seat for more than 2hrs. By the time I've walked into town etc it wouldn't leave much time for shopping!

Anyway, yeah it's really easy to keep dry when you're still front carrying. A brolly and a big waterproof jacket to zip over the both of you...sorted Much easier than trying to juggle pushchair and brolly!

Re: the heat...stretchy wraps do get a bit warm. When my LO was about 3 months I started using a mei tai instead, which was much cooler. Woven wraps or ring slings are also cooler Lots more info in the Natural Parenting section, as they vary a lot between brands.

I'll shut up now

 

[Floralaura]

You dont have to get a bulky travel system..they do them stroller style now..
The XLR is a stroller that takes a car seat
https://www.mothercare.com/Maclaren...&pf_rd_i=0&pf_rd_p=231490887&pf_rd_s=center-7
The XT is the model down, a stroller that can be used from birth
https://www.mothercare.com/Maclaren...&pf_rd_i=0&pf_rd_p=231490887&pf_rd_s=center-7

So lightweight and small..

 

[g1zm0h]

This is a good post! I also live in Canada and do not drive most of the time. I use the public transit system that is an absolute nightmare with a stroller. I see people struggling to get on the bus, up and down stairs and trying to squeez on the transit and I am now strongly considering carrying until I can use a jogging stroller around 6 months...

 

[gills8752]

I don't see why you can't manage with just a sling/carrier. If you don't own a car and you have easy access to a car seat which you do with your BIL then I wouldn't buy one. I wouldn't spend 50plus quid just in case you or your oh had an emergency where you couldn't get a lift from someone. There are always babysitters.

A heck of a lot of people in Natural Parenting only have slings and manage perfectly fine! I've used a sling lots in early days too, not any more as LO is a toddler and we use the car a lot being in scotland. But i do intend on using it again with my new baby.

If MIL wants a buggy then she can buy herself one that she is happy to use as you won't be needing it.

 

[Fuchsia1412]

You go for exactly what you want and think will be useful. You very rarely need to get a pram in an 'emergency' ....if you feel you need it after, i'm sure you can get someone to pop to mothercare/mamas and papas (wherever) and get one on the spot, or amazon it and would be there in a few days. Honestly...it's your choice, if she's so keen, she can buy a little runaround cheapy buggy and keep it at hers. Tell her to keep her nose out, you carry your baby how you want to. If my MIL attempted to butt in that much we wouldn't be round at her house for a while!

 

[Scottishgem]

ooh you are so close to me pixxi, what hospital are you going to? i am at the whittington in Archway. so are you any closer to deciding what you are going to do regarding the pram situation?.

 

[PhoenixN]

I completely understand your POV. However, as a peace keeping exercise have you considered a Baby Jogger City? I have the Baby Jogger City Mini and absolutely love it, wish I'd not bothered with a travel system now as the Baby Jogger is suitable from birth. It's a one hand fold so great for public transport and my 3 year old who is as tall as a 5 year old still fits in it. You could keep it at your MIL's until you move and then use it yourself. They now do a Micro version so very small and light:

https://www.kiddicare.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/productdisplay0_10751_-1_132365_10001

 

[pixxi]

ooh you are so close to me pixxi, what hospital are you going to? i am at the whittington in Archway. so are you any closer to deciding what you are going to do regarding the pram situation?.

I'm at UCH on Euston Road...it's a little bit further for me but I was there for fertility treatment anyway so it made sense to stay for the next phase.

Thanks everyone for your replies Talked it all through in some depth with DH last night, we are definitely sticking to our guns about babywearing, but I'm now not sure whether to give in and say ok we will have a car seat which we will keep (somewhere!) in the flat, or say ok MIL can get a small stroller/similar to just keep at her house. I don't think she's going to be satisfied until a full blown travel system has been purchased though...will have to see what she says.